The kids were gone and we decided to stay in one night. I figured I could cook big and The Mr. would have enough leftovers to get him through the work week while I was out in the country. He referred to it as eating bachelor-style vegan.

This is what I made for Mom and Pops. Hearty, flavorful, and totally vegan. Combined with cornbread, it was the perfect introduction to a new way of eating for my meat-and-potato driven parents.

The next night we had burgers. There was the traditional beef patty, but I also brought a box of these. They held up well on the grill. Pops even tried one to show The Boy that real men can eat veg. I was proud.

The introduction must have gone over well. Pops sent me a text today letting me know they finished off the last of the soup. He also sent his menu for the remainder of the week. Not a bit of meat to be found! I asked if he was going vegan. His response: as vegan as I'll ever be.

I'll take it.

Here's to your health, Mom and Pops.

We got back home on Saturday.

We went to a vegetarian buffet for dinner. Upon hearing our destination, The Offspring were not enthused. Then they saw that they could eat with chopsticks.

I guess meatless options are infinitely better when you can dine with wooden sticks.

They were begging to go back before we had pulled out of the parking lot.

Thank you, chopsticks.

Since it was Saturday night...and we hadn't seen each other in a few days...and the kids were asleep...I thought it appropriate to get a little crazy. I poured some wine and...

I more or less combined the two. Then I spliced them with my own take on things.

A mix of almonds and chopped walnuts.

Sometimes maple syrup, sometimes agave as a sweetener.

Meh. There are no hard and fast rules with breakfast cereal.

Mix it well.

Spread it out on a baking sheet.

Stick it in the oven.

Mix it around every 20 minutes for about an hour.

Let it cool.

Then stir in some dried cranberries and cherries.

Or whatever combo sounds good to your morning taste buds.

Granola.

The Mr. thinks it's better than sliced bread. When the granola canister runs low, he sounds the alarm.

So I double the recipe.

That way he'll share.

Perfect with vanilla almond milk.

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As I eat my homemade granola with vanilla almond milk while sitting in my comfortable, warm, dry home with running water, clean clothes, a working bathroom, and my family close at hand, I can't help but think about those in Japan that have nothing.

Nothing.

It's all gone.

I admire the strength and civility of the Japanese people that are having to endure such hardship. They are an example to us all.

I encourage you to donate to the Red Cross or one of the other charities that are giving assistance to those that have been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.

I will admit to being a bit dismayed over the lack of (publicized) help being shown to this country in need. I've seen no Hollywood-sponsored telethons, special charities established, or other such displays of support. From what I understand, donations are much lower for this disaster than those previous.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Girl goes to the beat of her own drum, I tell ya, and she keeps me guessing.

There are nights when The Offspring skip a bath because I am just too tired to clean up the trail of destruction that is left in their wake.

They must have some disorder that prevents them from picking up their clothes, underwear, shoes, socks, and wet towels from the bathroom floor.

Yes, I know. They should pick it up.

They do. But their version of picked up and my version of picked up are very different.

And for the record, I've grown weary of sharing the bathtub with Hulk.

Thank you, Lord, that ketchup is vegan.

I had a panic attack of sorts. Or at least that's what I think it was.

I was sitting on the couch, folding some clothes and watching Forrest Gump on television, when suddenly I had the overwhelming feeling that something bad was going to happen. I couldn't shake it. It just got stronger and stronger.

The Mr. returned from band practice only to find his usually stoic wife having some sort of hyperventilating meltdown...because Forrest and Jenny finally got married...and Captain Dan got new legs...and then Jenny died!

Really. It wasn't the movie.

I don't know what triggered it.

All I know is that Valium can be a wonderful thing.

The iPad is not helping my cause when it comes to getting to bed earlier.

I started another project.

At least I thought about starting another project. What you see here is about as far as I got.